When troubleshooting, there are two things you should always do before reaching for any diagnostic tools. The first is to check all the ‘easy’ things. And the second is to review any available troubleshooting aids. This includes the hydraulic system’s schematic diagram.

Indeed, the ability to read and interpret a schematic diagram is the hallmark of a competent hydraulics practitioner. … Read more

The increasing complexity of today’s hydraulic equipment means there’s a lot to know about proactive maintenance, if optimum reliability is to be achieved.

And it’s my observation that this increasingly specialized knowledge is grossly undervalued in the marketplace. But despite my loud and regular protests to the contrary, the ‘Holy Grail’ of all hydraulics skills is and always has been: … Read more

My wife often asks me why I still do consulting work. She wonders why I happily leave the comfort of my office to crawl all over hot, dirty, smelly hydraulic equipment.

Well for one, I actually enjoy it. Two, it keeps me sharp. But perhaps most importantly, it keeps me in touch with the issues that hydraulic equipment users grapple … Read more